Container



Patented Sept. 6, 1.932

UNITED STATES PATENT "oFElcE WALTER A. SHEAFFER, OF FORT MADISON, IOWA, ASSIGNOR TO W. A. SHEAFFER PEN `CO., OF FORT MADISON, IOWA, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE CONTAINER Application led August 3,'1929. Serial No. 388,183.

toa container having an enlarged chamber in j the lower portion thereof and a small auxiliary chamber in the upperv or neck portion in communication with the enlarged chamber, the auxiliary chamber receiving the flexible or yielding portion of a stopper havlng a rigid or non-yieldable internally threaded portion for engaging the exteriorly threaded neck portion to seal effectively the container and retain surplus liquid in the container after use.

One of the uses to which the present c on-l tainer may be employed is that of holding writing ink and that use particularly in the instance of carrying the container in a grip together with clothes. Travelling salesmen, tourists and the like are confronted with this problem daily and everyone generally encounters it occasionally. Besides being leakproof, to be desirable the container must retain the surplus ink in the bottle and not permit any to soil the outer surfaces thereof after the stopper has been removed, the ink used and the stopper replaced.

The specific construction illustrated herein contemplates the use of a hardl rubber stopper having a recessed portion which is periphcrally threaded to engage the external threads `on the neck of a container and having a soft rubber sealing portion vulcanized within the recessed portion and axially thereof extending outwardly therefrom to engage a seat formed interio-rally of the neck of the container or in the auxiliary chamber.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a container for liquids or semiliquids wherein the seal is effected within the neck thereof to prevent the soiling of the exterior surfaces of the bottle and to retain the surplus liquid in the chamber of the neck.

A further object of this invention is to ro- Vide a non-breakable liquid-tight contalner which may be comparatively inexpensive to manufacture and light in weight. l

lOther objects and advantages will hereinafter be more fully pointed out and for a more complete understanding of the nature,

' scope and characteristic. features of this invention, reference may be had to the following description when taken together with the accompanying drawing, in which latter:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the sealing means for the container;

Fig. 2 is a central vertical sectional view of the container showing the sealing means in an initial position thereon;

l Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 'of the upper portion of the container showing the sealing means in a sealed relation therewith; an

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of a modified form of sealing member.

Referring n'ow more vparticularly to the drawing the-container is separated into a lower enlarged chamber 10 and an upper comparatively small auxiliary chamber 11 in the neck portion 12 thereof. The chambers 10 and 1l are intercommunicating by reason of the passage 13 provided in the seat 14 formed between the chambers 10 and 11.

The material of the container is preferably of hard rubber, although for purposes of ornamentation it may be of any color and of a cellulose composition or material such as is known to vthe trade as Radite, bakelite and the like, wherein a mottled color effect may be obtained in the material. Aside from the ornamental value, the urpose of providing such materials is to o tain a non-breakable container which is also light in weight.

However, it is to be understood that a bottle of glass may be substituted for this material,

I although this is not believed to be particularly desirable in the present invention, or if de sirable would be covered with a thin shell of composition such as has suggested.

The apertured seat l14; provided by the ledge been hereinbefore at the top ofthe enlarged chamber and inthe iliary chamber 11 be disposed at an angle, for the purpose of convenience in moldmg nevertheless, the upper surface of the seat 14 will extend substantially horizontally.

The sealing means for the container comprises preferably a hard rubber stopper 15 which is interiorally threaded at 16 to engage external threads on the neck 12 of the container. In order to obtain such'a construction, a disc-shaped member is provided with a circular recess on one face side thereof as at 17 a substantial distance axially of the discshaped member, whereafter the peripheral wall of the aperture is provided with the threads 16. The outer periphery of the discshaped member is knurled as at 18 to provide a grip surface for the manual operation thereof. In the drawing the receptacle and the sealing means have been shown as being of circular cross section. It is obvious that the cross section thereof may be of any desired polygonal shape with, of course, the exception of the threaded portion which of necessity must be circular unless a different form of retaining means be employed. The stopper 15 is recessed as at 19 within the circular recess 17 to receive a soft rubber sealing portion 20 which extends outwardly therefrom a substantial distance beyond the apertured face side of the stopper 15 and in axial alignment therewith. The engaging surfaces of the sealing member 20 and the material sur- `rounding the aperture portion 19 are preferably vulcanized together in order to provide a fixed relation therebetween. Thus is formed a rigid body portion capableof receiving threads for snug engagement with external threads of the container, the rigid portion having a projecting member of a soft resilient material for serving the purpose of sealing the receptacle within the neck portion. o f- Referring now moreparticularly to Fig., 2 .of the drawing the extending portion or the soft rubber sealing member 20 is shown as' of greater length than the depth of the auxiliary chamber 11. The diameter of the sealing member 20 is substantially greater than the intercommunicating passage 13 and substantially smaller than the diameter of the auxiliary chamberll. The side walls of the sealing member.20'are substantially vertical; The lower surface of the sealing membery 20 engages the seat 14 considerably prior to the time that the stopper 15 is lfully threaded on the receptacle. y f

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 3 a yview is 'shown whereby the stopper 15 is threaded home or threaded tightly on the shoulder-or seat 14 provided in the neck portion. The vexcess of material of the soft rubber sealing member 20 is expanded within the auxiliary chamber 11 and the passageway 13 and a liquid-tight container is thus formed wherein the seal is provided within the neck of the bottle. Hereinbefore, in so far as applicant is aware, the sealing askets have contacted with the upper sur ace of the neck of the bottle or have been provided on the outside 'of the neckof the bottle. The present invention provides a seal within the neck of the bottle before the ink reaches the neck, or in applicants device, the auxiliary chamber 11.

When the stopper is removed and the bottle is used, as for example, in filling a fountain pen', any surplus ink is retained in either of the chambers 10 or 11 of the bottle and the threads 16 are kept free from ink. When not in use the sealing means prevents ink from being displaced in the chamber 10 by reason of the sealing means abutting the seat 14. When the closed bottle is tilted to a horizontal position, or even to an upside down position, no liquid is permitted to reach the thread 16 nor the top of the neck 12 nor even the auxiliary chamber 11. Therefore, when the stopper is removed there is no dan'- ger of the outside of the bottle becoming soiled. This, as before stated, is particularly desirable in the instance of travelling people where a supply of ink must be carried along in grips wlth wearing apparel.

In Fig. 4 of the drawing, a sealing means of a modified form is illustrated in which the hard rubber or composition stopper 21 is provided with an axial circular recess on v one face side thereof, the peripheral wall of the recess being threaded to engage the external threads on the neck 12 of the container. However, it is to be understood that the stopper in both embodiments of; this application may be externally threaded to engage internal threads on the neck of the bottle without departing from the spirit of this invention.

A projection 22 of any desired cross section is preferably formed integrally with the. stopper 21 axially of and withinthe circular recess, the projection depending therefrom( A soft rubber, cork orother su1tableeneilient member 23 is suitably secured to the; rojection 22 to act inthe same manner on t e sea-t 14 as the sealing member 20 of the previously described embodiment. The resilient member 22 may be in the Jf'orm of a ring or a cap,

either of which will operate satisfactory as a seal.

As a result of this invention a containemfer bottle and to retain the surplus liquid within the neck. Further, applicant contemplates the idea of providing a stopper of hard rubber and a sealing means disposed thereon of soft rubber or other resilient material. The

container may, also, be made very ornamental y since it is preferable to provide the same of a non-breakable material such as compositions known to the trade as Radite, bakelite or the like. Such materials, besides being ornamental, are ordinarily. of a substantially lighter weight than glass and this is to be,-

greatly desired.

While but a single embodiment of this invention is herein shown and described, it is to be understood that various modificationsl thereof may be apparent to those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of this invention and, therefore, the same is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims and the prior art.

I claim:

1. A receptacle for liquids having a main chamber and an open-ended auxiliary chamber, an apertured seat between said chambers providing communication therebetween, said aperture being of a substantially smaller diameter than the diameters of said chambers, removable rigid closure -means for engaging said open end of said auxiliary chamber, and sealing means comprising a resilient member of a diameter throughout the length thereof greater than that of said aperture and smaller than that of said auxiliary chamber secured to said closure means for effecting a seal of said main chamberto prevent soiling of the upper end of said auxiliary chamber, said sealing means being of a greater height than the depth of said auxiliary chamber.

2. An'eceptacle vfor liquids having a main chamber and an open-ended auxiliary chamber, an apertured seat disposed substantially at right angles to the side walls and between said chambers providing communication therebetween, said aperture being of a substantially smaller diameter than the diameters of said chambers, removable rigid closure means for engaging said open end of said auxiliary chamber, and sealing means comprising 'a resilient member of a diameter throughout the length thereof greater than that of said aperture and smaller than that of said auxiliary chamber secured to said closure means for effecting a seal of said main chamber to prevent soiling of the upper end of said auxiliary chamber, said sealing means being of a greater height than the de th of said auxiliary chamber and having a su stantially Hat underneath surface for engaging the upper surface of said seat.

3. A receptacle for liquids having a main chamber and an open-ended auxiliary chamber, an apertured seat between said chambers providing communication therebetween, said aperture being of a substantially smaller diameter than the diameters of said chambers, removable rigid closure means for engaging said open end of said auxiliary chamber, and

sealing means ixedly secured to said rigid closurev means comprising 'a non-resilient projection on said closure means depending into said auxiliary chamber, and a resilient member which together with said projection chamber for effecting a seal of said main chamber.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

WALTER A. "SHEAFFER 

